necklaces – the Spiff

Fashion, necklaces, old navy, Why this works, winter

Styling a Swingy Necklace

January 19, 2015 No Comments

I love a good craving. I can go through long bouts of indecisiveness, so when a craving pops up I’m all about it. Lately I’ve had a craving for long swingy necklaces. I love how they make you feel sexy and carefree. Like you just threw it on (because you did) and yet it looks so polished.

Lately I’ve had a craving for long swingy necklaces. I love how they make you feel sexy and carefree. Like you just threw it on (because you did) and yet it looks so polished.

This necklace was the basis for this whole outfit and I’ll tell you how it came about…

I didn’t want to wear it with just a simple sweater because it still needed some sort of background beyond just one color. That’s when I decided to go shopping and I found this number. The wide army green and black stripes are the perfect backdrop for the gold, and the sheerness of the blouse meant it would work well into spring (something I start to think about this time of year).

The fact that it was only $12 at JCP was a win. I immediately knew I could always throw a scarf on over it or wear it with my leather jacket…two more ways to get use out of it and therefore solidifying my decision.

These skinny black trousers from Old Navy were a perfect fit especially when I paired them with my colored leopard heels (I love me a good pattern mix).

For the rest of my jewelry, I liked doing a black watch and then a pile of bracelets because it meant nothing got more attention than the necklace. A bold bracelet would have taken some of the spotlight.

Note: I hope you enjoyed today’s post! It was a throwback to a post I wrote last January. I’ve got big things a-brewin’ that’s taking up a lot of my time (more on that later). So I’m scaling back the blog (for just a little bit) to 3 day a week posts. This will help me refine my material and be better at bringing you the absolute spiffiest fashion and beauty finds out there! Thanks for continuing to read and have a wonderful day! :)

Fashion, necklace, necklaces, statement necklace, the limited

Add a Little Sparkle

December 9, 2014 No Comments

Do not spend one minute of your December stressing over what to wear to a Christmas event.

And yes I typed that sentence out for me just as much as you. There’s enough going on this time of year, there’s no reason we should add more stress to our lives. Especially when all we have to do is add a great necklace!

When it comes to putting together a gorgeous/festive outfit, one of the easiest (and cheapest) routes to go is buying a statement necklace.

Not only will it jazz up what you’ve already got in your closet (saving you some money), but it will also add just enough sparkle and will totally last you past the Christmas holidays (sometimes those sparkly sweaters get neglected once January rolls around).

Here are four necklaces from The Limited (at West Town Mall) that will add some major bling to your basics…

Have an all black ensemble planned? Then add these red gems for a strong dose of Christmas without being overdone.

The double strands of diamonds would add a gorgeous sparkle to a rose pink sweater or they would dress up a crisp white button up with a blazer and jeans. Or put them all together and wear the necklace over the top of them both!

This tiered gem necklace (in the middle) is a beautifully structured piece. Give it center stage by pairing it with an open neckline. Or give it a cozy back drop and pair it with a slim gray sweater – one that you would have never thought would work at a Christmas party, now totally can!

Allow me to make the word “convertible” even more appealing…this last piece is a convertible mixed media necklace. Which means the longer strands you see can be unattached and worn alone. In fact you can pair the necklace down again and remove some pearls there in the middle. OR you can keep the party going strong and wear it all together with a long waterfall sweater and a metallic tank if you want to go the real YOW-ZAAAA route.

*Note: In an effort to save my sanity and clear off some space on my plate, I’ll be taking Wednesdays off from the blog for the next couple of weeks. Good news is this will allow you to enjoy Tuesday’s post even longer, and get you hungrier for Thursday’s freshness.

Thanks for reading and I hope you’re having a very Merry Christmas season!

accessories, ann taylor, Fashion, necklaces

Swingy vs. Statement Necklaces

September 22, 2014 No Comments

Styling can be the hardest part of getting dressed, but it can also make or break your outfit. So no pressure, but get it right every time. Ok?

No, that’s a joke. You need to get it right 90% of the time.*

*Also a joke.

I want to help you get in the swing of knowing what necklace to wear, so take a gander at these two looks from Ann Taylor in West Town Mall (this picture was taken at the Fall Indulge event in West Town Mall).

On the right, we have a great LBD with lace detailing. In this instance the statement necklace is best because she’s got a solid stripe there at the top, providing the perfect backdrop to showcase one of Ann’s gorgeous accessories.

If the top strip had been the lace portion, that would have been enough going on visually so earrings would have been best.

The look on the right calls for a long necklace, because she has all of that great real-estate right down the center of her body. The coat (or sometimes sweater) draws the eye in towards the center, making it the perfect spot for something long and swingy.

If you’re in need of more accessory know-how, click here for my last post and stay tuned because there will be more. Oh, there will be plenty more.

accessories, Fashion, necklaces, statement necklace

Striped Dress Refresh

May 13, 2014 No Comments

We are all susceptible to falling into an accessories rut. It happens.

The important thing is to know the signs that you’re in one. If you reach for the same exact necklace every time you put on a certain top, you’re in a jewelry rut.

If you look through your jewelry collection and see multiple necklaces that look alike, you’re in an accessories rut.

Let’s work together to break out of that rut.

Step one?

Follow my lead and try a new necklace with that dress that always gets worn with the other one.
When I first wore this magical number from White House Black Market, I wore it with this turquoise necklace.

But to freshen things up a bit, I decided to wear it this time with a light pink statement necklace mixed with diamonds (oh, they’re all real). What drew me to this one was the shape. I love how the jagged outline gives the light pink color and diamonds combination an edgier feel.

I’m all about that edgier feel.

This dress has such a great neck space for a statement necklace like this. That’s why it’s fun to make it look different with a new one each time (you hear that, honey? More jewelry!)

I dare you, no, I double dog dare you to try a new necklace with an old outfit next time. You’ll feel so fresh!

accessories, forever21, necklaces

4 Little Ways to Freshen up for Spring (And Spend Less Than $11)

March 4, 2014 No Comments

If you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a spring wardrobe, but still crave versatility, stock up on accessories.

And if you’re thinking I’m crazy for saying that because necklaces and earrings are just as, if not more expensive then great clothes, then you haven’t been in Forever21. And you have my deepest sympathies.

I don’t care WHAT age you are. If you’ve got a neck, earlobes and some ovaries then you should really get in there and check out what they have to offer and the ridiculously good prices they’re offering it at.

Take this lovely beaded necklace for example.
For $10.80 this little ditty would doll up a white t-shirt and boyfriend jeans just perfectly.

Need another $10 example? I’m so glad…
How about this fresh piece that would hang just perfectly over a sweater that’s over a button down that’s under a blazer! (So it goes…button down then sweater then necklace then blazer).

Ok maybe really great looking necklaces for about what you paid for lunch last week isn’t your thing. Let’s look at earrings…

You know what these little $5 investments would do for that black and white striped shirt you bought last summer and a pair of dark skinny jeans? They’d take it to fresh and cute boot camp, that’s what they’d do.

And before your wrist gets all jealous…
Dibs on this adorable $7.80 bracelet that will simply look so, so cute with last years sundresses.
I’m serious, dibs.

Now you see, there’s no excuse. And I definitely don’t want to hear that you’re too old to go in there. They can plan on seeing me well into my 90’s ;)

Don’t think accessories can be sexy? Read this.